Chinese Landing controversy Govt staying out of internal village conflict – VP

…says 9 illegal mining operations found shut down

Investigations by the fact-finding mission that was sent into Chinese Landing, Region One (Barima-Waini), by the Government last month, are still ongoing as Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has revealed that nine illegal mining operations were shut down.
The Vice President made this revelation during his most recent press conference where he was asked for an update on the situation. This is particularly important since no concrete resolution seems to have been reached at the recently concluded National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference, among community leaders. However, Jagdeo noted that there is a lot of internal village conflict, and the Government has attempted to stay out.

“As to where we are at this exact moment, I know the investigations have not been completed. I know we had an initial engagement with the commission, to say that we intend to fully comply. I know that the report is not completed as yet. But I know also we have taken steps, strong steps, to address the identified issues that we were written about.”
“And so, I had a private discussion with the Toshaos from Chinese Landing. And then, at the NTC itself, an issue came up because a lot of the villagers from the villages are saying they don’t agree with his action. So, you have a lot of confusion. And I said we didn’t want to get caught up at the NTC with internal village conflict between different parties in the villages,” Jagdeo said.
Jagdeo also noted that while some villagers from Chinese Landing are in support of the miner, Wayne Vieira, others are opposed to the Chinese Landing leaders and have accused them of attempting to monopolise mining. Then there are those who are supporting the village leaders. The Government’s position, he noted, is a clear one since they have always been on the side of the community, until a ruling from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) against the State.
“So, you have different groups, different positions. I explained to them at the NTC, that this matter that went to the commission, had very little to do with Vieira. Because it seems as though the argument being made now, is that they only wanted action taken against Vieira. But that matter was already adjudicated in the highest court.”
“It seems as though the matter that went before the commission, that the impact of mining in the area is causing pollution. That the miners are harassing people and causing a whole range of social problems, including threatening them. And so, the Vieira matter, we stood on the side of the village throughout it, but the CCJ ruled against us. So that’s a separate matter.”
Moreover, the Vice President made it clear that wherever possible the Government had taken action on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) precautionary measures issued to Guyana on July 21, 2023. He noted that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) shut down nine illegal operations.
“To cure the breach, there’s only one way you can do that. Since the source of this claim is that of pollution and harassment is mining, then the Government of Guyana took the step to shut down the mining activities there. And therefore, there can be no pollution, continuous breach. No harassment.”
“I spoke with GGMC and they said they found nine operations, illegal operations there. All of that was shut down… so that’s where we are now. We have cured the breach and now we have to find out, that’s why the investigators were there, whether the claims made before the Human Rights Commission, whether those were accurate or not.”
According to Jagdeo, the findings in the report are expected to provide details on this once completed. He noted that this was explained to the Toshao, since a lot of false information had previously been circulating. (G3)